Translation of a letter of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, German
Branch, Wachtturmstra·sse 1-19, Magdeburg/Germany:
Dear Reichskanzler,
on June 25, 1933, at the Sporthalle Wilmersdorf in Berlin there was a
conference of appx. 5,000 Bible Researchers (Jehovah's Witnesses),
representing several millions of Germans who are friends and followers
of this movements for many years. Purpose of this conference, which
was attended by representatives of all bible students communities of
Germany, was to find ways and means to inform the Reichskanzler, as
well as other high officials of the German Reich and the governments of
its individual countries of the following:
In several parts of the country, actions were taken against a corporation
of serious Christian men and women who are standing on the foundation
of positive Christianity. Such actions can only described as the persecu
tion of Christians by other Christians, since the accusations - which have
led to these actions against us - primarily are of clerical, especially cath
olic origin and untrue.
We are absolutely convinced of the impartiality of the government offi
cials dealing with this situation. Yet we conclude that the contents of our
literature and the purpose of our movement are largely misinterpreted
due to the accusations which are brought up against us by our religious
opposers and which might result in a prejudiced viewpoint. This might
also be due to the amount of our literature and the high demand put
upon the respective officials.
For this reason the things discussed at the conference were put down as
a declaration of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, in order to pro
vide you, Mr. Reichskanzler, as well as the high officials of the German
Reich and its countries, with a documentof the fact that the Bible Re
searchers of Germany only have one goal in their work, namely to lead
people back to God and to be witnesses of the Name of Jehovah, the
most high, the father of our Lord and redeamer Jesus Christ. We are
convinced that you, Mr. Reichskanzler, will not have such activities dis
turbed.
The communities of the Bible Researchers of Germany and their mem
bers are generally known as defenders of respect of the Most High and
zealous students of the bible. Local police officials will need to testify to
the fact that Bible Researchers have to be counted among elements of
the country and ist people who are known for their love and support of
oder. There sole mission is to draw the hearts of humans to God.
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (located in
Magdeburg/Germany) is the organizing center of the mission of the Bible
Researchers.
The Brooklyn headquarter of the Watchtower Society is pro German in
an exemplary way and has been so for many years. For that reason, in
1918, the president of the Society and seven members of the board of
directors were sentenced to 80 years in prison, because the president
refused to use two of the magazines published in America under his di
rection for war propaganda against Germany. These two magazines,
"The Watchtower" and "Bible Student" were the only magazines in
America which refused to engage in anti-German propaganda and for
that reason were prohibited and suppressed in America during the war.
In the very same manner, in course of the recent months the board of
directors of our Society not only refused to engage in propaganda
against Germany, but has even taken a position against it. The enclosed
declaration underlines this fact and emphasizes that the people leading
in such propaganda (Jewish businessmen and catholics) also are the
most rigorous persecutors of the work of our Society and ist board of
directors. This and other statements of the declaration are meant to re
pudiate the slanderous accusation, that Bible Researchers are sup
ported by the jews.
The conference of five thousand delegates received the statement of the
governor in Magdeburg with great satisfaction, who declared that it can
not be proven that there is any relationship between the Bible Research
ers and Communists or Marxists, as it was stated by our religious oppos
ers (which means that such a statement is also nothing but slander). A
press report in the Magdeburger Tageszeitung, issue 104, dated May 5,
1933, reads as follows:
A declaration of the government concerning the occupation of the Bible
Researcher building: The press department of the government issued
the following information: "Occupation of the property of the Society of
Serious Bible Researchers" in Magdeburg was lifted on April 29, since
no material to support the claim of communist activities could be found."
Another report in the Magdeburger Tageszeitung, issue 102, dated May
3, 199, reads:
The office of the Bible Researchers Society informed us that the the
actions taken against the Watchtower Society and the Bible Research
ers Society, were abolished. All property was returned, since a compre
hensive search led to the result that nothing can be held against this
Society neither as far as political nor as criminal activities are concerned.
It was also concluded that both Societies are of an absolutely un-political
and strictly religious nature. On request, the government confermed the
correctness of these statements.
The conference of five thousand delegates emphasized that according
to this state of affairs it considered it beneath ist dignity to even defend
itself against any disparaging accusations of Marxist or even Communist
activites. Such disproved slander of our religious opposers undoubtedly
carry the sign of religious competition. Their goal is to stifle an honest
warner with the ugly means of slander instead of using the word of God.
The conference of five thousand delegates also noted - as is expressed
in the declaration - that the Bible Researchers of Germany are fighting
for the very same high ethical goals and ideals which also the national
government of the German Reich proclaimed respecting the relationship
of humans to God, namels: honesty of the created being towards its cre
ator.
The conference came to the conclusion that there are no contradictions
when it comes to the relationship between the Bible Researchers of
Germany to the national government of the German Reich. To the con
trary, referring to the purely religious and unpolitical goals and efforts of
the Bible Researchers, it can be said that these are in full agreement
with the identical goals of the national government of the German Reich.
Based upon the supposedly strong language of our literature, some of
our books were banned. The conference of the five thousand delegates
pointed to the fact that the contents of the books which were criticized,
only refers to the situation and actions within the Anglo-American world
power - especially England - which is responsible for the League of Na
tions and its contracts and burdons imposed upon Germany. What is
written in our literature - no matter whether from a financial or political
point of view - is only directed towards the suppressors of the German
people and their country, but by no means refers to Germany itself,
which is trying hard to fight against the imposed burdens. Therefore the
ban imposed upon these books is completely unjustified.
In some parts of the country Bible Researchers are even prohibited to
meet for prayer and church service and for many weeks are hoping for a
solution of this situation which is stifling their religious lives. The follow
ing was expressed about this situation:
We want to continue to live up to the prohibition imposed upon us, for
we are confident that Mr. Reichskanzler and the high government offi
cials will lift this ban - which forces tens of thousands of Christian men
and women to a martyrdom which can only be compared to that of the
first Christians - after they have gained an understanding of the real
situaiton.
Finally, the conference of the five thousand delegates expressed that
both Bible Researchers and Watchtower Organization stand for keeping
up order and security within the state, as well as furthering the primary
high ideals of the national government in the field of religion. The afore
mentioned, as well as the inclosed declaration are meant as a brief infor
mation directed to both Mr. Reichskanzler as leader of the people and all
the other high government officials of the German Reich.
The enclosed declaration was read by the secretary to the five thousand
delegates of the conference of the Bible Researchers. It was approved
unanimously and it was decided to present one copy each together with
this report of the conference to Mr. Reichskanzler and all the other high
government officials of the Reich and its countries.
This we want to do herewith and ask that the following request, which is
also stated in the declaration, will be received with favour:
Namely that a commission from our midst is given the chance to person
ally explain the true situation either to Mr. Reichskanzler himself or to the
minister of internal affairs. Alternatively, we ask Mr. Reichskanzler to
appoint a commission of men who do not have any religious prejudice
against us - men who do not have professional religious interests but are
solely interested to comply to the just principles as they were set up by
the Reichskanzler himself - to investigate our situation impartially. The
principles mentioned, refer to paragraph 24 of the program of the Na
tional Socialistic German Party of Workers, which reads:
"We demand the freedom of all religious denominations within the state,
as far as they do not endanger the state itself or violate the moral values
of the German race. The party as such represents the viewpoint of posi
tive Christianity without being attached to any particular denomination. It
fights against the jewish-materialistic spirit inside and outside of us and
is convinced that any recovery of the German people can only take
place from the inisde out."
We are fully confinced that, once we have been judged impartially,
based firstly upon God's word and secondly upon the above mentioned
paragraphs, the national government of Germany will find no reason to
prevent us from our church services and missionary activities.
We are looking forward to your kind approval, which we hope to receive
soon, and want to assure our highest respect to you, honourable Mr.
Reichskanzler.
Yours faithfully
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
Magdeburg
Translated by Stephan E. Wolf
100023.236@compuserve.com